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This is another species of nocturnal animal^ and is the 

 most diminutive Lemur with which I have been ac- 

 quainted, says Mr Shaw. They inhabit a belt of forest- 

 laud stretching from the Eastern forest into the heart 

 of Betsileo, a few miles north of Fiauarantsoa where 

 they are tolerably abundant. They live on the top of 

 the highest trees, choosing invai'iably the smallest 

 branches where they collect a quantity of dried leaves 

 and make what from below, looks like a bird's nest. 

 So close is the resemblance that it requires good eyes 

 to distinguish the one from the other. — Their food 

 consists of fruit and insects and most probably honey. 

 They haVe been seen catching the flies that have 

 entered their cage for the honey ; they delight on 

 Moths and Butterflies. They are extremely sly and 

 wild ; wherefore they can hardly be tamed ; they are 

 also very quarrelsome, and fight very fiercely, uttering 

 a most piercing penetrating sound, somewhat resemb- 

 ling a very shrill whistle. 



The teeth are very minute, but exceedingly sharp ; 

 and when they bite, they hold so tenaciously that it 

 requires a good shake and knock to make them let go. 

 These Lemurs can leap better than the Brown-Mouse 

 Lemurs, but still their usual mode of progression is 

 on all fours ; and when running up any branches 

 v/hich they can grasp with their hands they are very 

 nimble indeed, very much more so than when on the 

 ground. They are very strong in their hind legs and 

 hands. Thoy are often seen swinging themselves down 



